Bafana breeze past Mauritius
Cape Town - An impressive Bafana Bafana comfortably beat Mauritius 3-0 in a match of missed chances that opened Shakes Mashaba’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) campaign at Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday.
Shake Mashaba’s charges took the game to the visiting Island country from the start with Siphelele Ntshangase heading wide after a good ball from Thamsanqa Gabuza.
Mauritius had a chance of their own, but Itumeleng Khune was up the task to deny the visitors.
Marc Van Herdeen also tested the Mauritius goalkeeper, Jean-Louis, from a free kick, but the goalie was able to pair the ball over the bar.
From that moment, it was Bafana Bafana all the way with Musa Nyatamana and Gift Mutapa enjoying a lot of possession in the midfield.
With South Africa threatening and looking for a goal, it finally came on the 25th minute as Gabuza easily tapped in a ball into the back of the net from a sweet ball provided by Van Heerden for the opening goal of the match.
The goal was the second for Gabuza in only his fourth cap for his country having scored the opener in a 2-1 win over Angola on Wednesday.
Bafana Bafana doubled the score shortly afterwards as Gabuza, and Mandla Masango combined to set up set-up Ntshangase, who bravely put the ball into the back of the net for the second goal of the match in the 27th minute.
Masango should have put his name in the score sheet on the 33rd minute for a third goal, but his well taken short was parried away by the Mauritius goalkeeper who managed to put his hand on the ball before the ball hit the crossbar.
But it was just a matter of time before South Africa found the third goal as the impressive trio of Masango, Gabuza once again combined for the third goal in the 44th minute with Ntshangase getting his second of the day and sending the home side to the half time break with 3-0 lead.
The Second half began with Bafana Bafana still in charge of possession, but the Islanders looked a bit organised.
Ntshangase had a chance to get a hat-trick shortly after the re-start but headed his effort straight into the hands of the goalkeeper.
Mauritius goalkeeper, Jean-Louis, denied Van Herdeen’s another chance to get into the score sheet from a fantastic free kick in the 58th minute.
More chances were created and numerous opportunities squandered by Mashaba’s charges who continued to dominate the match in the second half.
Mauritius was reduced to ten men after defender, David Lengclume, was handed a red card for dirty play in the 80th minute.
Ntshangase was denied a hat trick first with the ball cleared from the goal line and minutes later he hit the crossbar in the 87th minute as the match ended at 3-0 in favour of Mashaba’s side.
(Pictured: Man of the match Sphelele Ntshangase - File Photo: Gallo Images)
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